On any surface that has even the slightest incline, I put the car in the appropriate gear (first/reverse). Our parking brakes are the weakest I've ever had in a car and I won't rely on it unless the surface is completely flat (like my garage).

I have always left all my cars in first. As for the stress on the trans the routine that i use is park, leave the car in first, e brake, and turn the car off. My thought is that the parking brake should do the trick but if it somehow fails the gear will catch it. This is just the way I've done things and thought I'd share!

Strange thread. Even stranger to me is that some folk keep their manual transmissions in neutral when they park. I just leave it in first -- the gear I was in when I stopped moving forward. I'd never trust the parking break even on a level surface much less a hill.

Strange thread. Even stranger to me is that some folk keep their manual transmissions in neutral when they park. I just leave it in first -- the gear I was in when I stopped moving forward. I'd never trust the parking break even on a level surface much less a hill.

i am pretty confident more ppl in the world leave it on neutral than 1st gear~~;; i mite be wrong...